Jeremy Hunt: Godalming and Ash on a 'knife edge'

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is standing as the Conservative candidate

There are lots of eyes on the seat of Godalming and Ash at this election.

The main reason is because it is where the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is standing as the Conservative candidate.

It is expected to be a very close result, which he has described as being on a “knife edge".

Godalming and Ash is one of two new constituencies, along with Farnham and Bordon, which are replacing the old South West Surrey seat.

In 2019, Mr Hunt had a majority of 8,817 in South West Surrey over the Liberal Democrats.

He told broadcasters: “This is a very marginal constituency. I’ve always treated it as a marginal constituency.

“I’m fighting for every vote. I think that I can win the seat. But I don’t take anything for granted.

“It is on a knife edge. And that’s what I’m knocking on doors for, six hours every day, meeting lots of people, making the arguments.”

He has also told the BBC that if Labour wins the general election it will need an "effective opposition" in Parliament.

The Liberal Democrat candidate is Paul Follows

The seat is a target for the Liberal Democrats, with Paul Follows, who is also the leader of Waverley Borough Council, as the party’s candidate.

He also says that the race in Godalming and Ash is very close.

“I’m getting a very positive reception on the doorstep,” he told BBC Radio Surrey. “Lots of people [are] upset about the last 14 years.

“They don’t like being told that they’re actually fine and everybody is getting richer, when they know by looking in their bank accounts, by looking in the rivers and trying to get a doctor’s appointment, they know none of those things is true.”

Guildford councillor James Walsh is standing for Labour.

“Jeremy Hunt says he is the underdog, I am the underdog,” he said.

“This constituency is a squeeze. The Liberal Democrats are working hard, the Tories are working hard, we’re working hard.

“[From] what I’m seeing on the streets, the Conservative vote looks like it has collapsed, so where that goes, whether it goes to the other candidates…it’s all to play for.”

Also standing in Godalming and Ash are Reform UK’s Graham Drage, Ruby Tucker from the Green Party, and Harriet Williams from the Women’s Equality Party.

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